How to Change the Virtual Memory Paging File in Vista

Information

If your computer lacks the random access memory (RAM) needed to run a program or operation, Vista uses virtual memory to compensate. Virtual memory combines your computer’s RAM with temporary space on your hard drive. When RAM runs low, virtual memory moves data from RAM to a space called a paging file. Moving data to and from the paging file frees up the RAM to complete its work. By default Vista will manage virtual memory automatically. This will show you how to manually change the size of the paging file.

NOTE

The more RAM your computer has, the faster your programs will generally run since Vista may not have to use virtual memory as often. If a lack of RAM is slowing your computer, you might be tempted to increase virtual memory to compensate. However, your computer can read data from RAM much more quickly than from a hard disk, so adding RAM is a better solution. Plus, Vista usually does a great job at managing virtual memory for you. Another option is have the paging file on another hard drive (step 10), not partition, instead that is as fast or faster then the hard drive Vista is installed on. The Virtual Memory Paging File is located at: C:\pagefile.sys

Tip

To improve the performance of Vista, you can place the paging file on a second physical hard drive instead of the same C: drive that Vista is on. Doing this allows Vista to dump temp junk onto one drive while not having to interrupt reads or writes on the other drive. You can expect a 5 to 10% increase in speed depending on the speed of your hard drives.

WARNING

If you receive error messages that warn of low virtual memory, you need to either add more RAM or increase the size of your paging file so that you can run the programs on your computer. Vista manages the size automatically, but you can manually change the size of virtual memory if the default size is not enough for your needs or you wish to change what drive is used for the paging file.

Here's How:

1. Open the Start Menu.

A) Right click on Computer and click Properties.
B) Go to step 3.

OR

2. Open the Control Panel (Classic View).

A) Click on the System icon.

3. Click on Advanced system settings. (See screenshot below)
NOTE: While your here, note how much Memory (RAM) you have installed under the System section.

4. Click on Continue in the UAC prompt.
5. In the Advanced tab, click on the Settings button in the Performance section. (See screenshot below)

6. Click on the Advanced tab. (See screenshot below)
7. Under Virtual memory, click on the Change button.

8. To Turn Off Automatic Virtual Memory Management for All Drives -

A) Uncheck the Automatically manage paging file size for all drives box. (See left screenshot below step 9)
NOTE: This turns off automatic virtual memory management by Vista so you can manually change the drive and size to what you want instead.

B) Go to step 10.

9. To Turn On Automatic Virtual Memory Management for All Drives -

A) Check the Automatically manage paging file size for all drives box. (See right screenshot below)
B) Click OK.
C) Go to step 15.

10. To Select a Drive to Add or Change the Paging File -
NOTE: By default, Vista uses the same drive letter that it is installed on. This system drive is usually the C: drive.
WARNING: If you have another drive listed and want to use it instead, then make sure it is as fast or faster than the drive Vista is installed on. Make sure you only use a separate hard drive, not another partition on the same hard drive as Vista is installed on. This will cause a decrease in performance if you do.

A) Click on a listed hard drive you want to change or add a paging file to for Vista to use. (See right sceenshot above)

11. To Have a Custom Paging File Size for the Selected Drive -
NOTE: You would do this if you do not want to use the automatic system managed size by Vista.

A) Dot Custom size. (See screenshots below step 15)
B) Type in a size for the Initial size in MB.
NOTE: This usually would be the amount of RAM installed on your computer plus 300 MB. (1 GB = 1024 MB)

C) Type in a size for the Maximum size in MB.
NOTE: This usually would be 2.5 to 3 times the amount of RAM installed on your computer.

D) Go to step 14.

12. To Have a System Managed Paging File Size for the Selected Drive -
NOTE: This will let Vista automatically manage the size of the paging file for this selected drive as needed.

A) Dot System managed size. (See screenshots below step 9)
B) Go to step 14.

13. To Remove the Paging File from the Selected Drive -
WARNING: Make sure that you have at least one drive selected to have a paging file on. Otherwise your computer may slow down dramatically.
NOTE: You would usually only do this if you have more than one drive that you already added a paging file to from step 11 above.

A) Dot No paging file. (See screenshots below step 15)

14. Click the Set button. (See left screenshot below)
NOTE: Repeat steps 10 to 14 if you would like to make more changes to the paging file, or add a paging file to another listed drive.

15. Click on OK. (See right screenshot below)

16. If the Paging File Size was Decreased -
NOTE: If the paging file was decreased, the computer will need to be restarted before the changes can be applied. You will not see this if you increased the size.

A) Click OK. (See screenshot below)

17. Click on OK. (See screenshot below step 7)
18. Click on OK. (See screen shot below step 5)

19. If the Paging File Size was Decreased -
NOTE: You will not see this if you increased the size.

A) Click Restart Now. (See screenshot below)
NOTE: Be sure to save and close anything open first. This will restart the computer immediately.